Revolutionising access to digital menstrual health information for girls: Oky app
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"I want to know what to do when I get my first period and what changes to expect during puberty, so I feel prepared, assured and confident to manage them.\\u201d \\u2013 Oky user\\xa0
Girls have important questions about their health, and often they don\\u2019t know where to turn to find trusted, culturally sensitive information about their menstrual, sexual and reproductive health. UNICEF\\u2019s East Asia and Pacific Regional Office saw a need to close this gender digital divide and set forth to develop Oky \\u2013 the world\\u2019s first period tracker app for girls and created with girls.
In today\\u2019s episode, we speak to Gerda Binder, UNICEF's advisor on gender and technology, about gender equality and digital technology in the region, and how the Oky app is helping to close that divide.
Gerda explains how the idea for the Oky app came about, the co-creation process with girls, their families, and communities, and how the app has been received in pilot countries of Indonesia and Philippines. We also discuss how her team is approaching the rollout of Oky in other countries like Papua New Guinea, where different cultural norms and religions play a part in access to an understanding of menstrual health.
Australia has provided $8 million to UNICEF to support the Oky app in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.
Find out more about the Oky app here: https://okyapp.info/
We encourage you to join the conversation and follow Australia's Ambassador for Regional Health Security Dr Stephanie Williams at @AusAmbRHS.